Team Middle East

LCDR RACHID ELBADRI (RET.)

VP, BD for MENA

LCDR Rachid Elbadri is a native of Morocco who immigrated to the U.S. in 1987. He graduated from Georgia State University in 1996 with a Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology. He was direct commissioned as an Industrial Hygiene Officer in 2000 and transitioned into the Foreign Area Officer program in 2007.

LCDR Elbadri’s first assignment was with the Naval Medical Center of Portsmouth, where he served as the Afloat Industrial Hygiene Officer for all Norfolk based ships and submarines. During this assignment, LCDR Elbadri completed a Master’s degree in Environmental Science in Old Dominion University in 2002. He then reported to the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), serving as the assistant Safety Officer during ship construction and sea trials. While serving onboard CVN-76, he was deployed for 8 months to Iraq in 2003 and served in support of the Coalition Provisional Authority in the capacity of Political Advisor and Military Linguist involved in high level negotiations and dialogues between Ambassador Bremer’s representative and various local politicians. He then reported to President of Inspection and Survey and subsequently to Navy Environmental Protection and Medical Unit Number Two, serving as Surface/Submarine NAVOSH and Environmental Protection Inspector. After his selection to the foreign area officer program (Middle East), he completed a Master’s degree in National Security Affairs in Naval Postgraduate School in 2009 and a year of Persian Farsi at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California in 2010. LCDR Elbadri reported to the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command where he served as a country engagement officer for Pakistan and Bahrain. He reported to the Navy Internationals Program Office in 2014 where he served as Country Programs Director for all U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Coast Guard Foreign Military Sales for the countries of Pakistan, Iraq, Qatar and Oman. He retired from the U.S. Navy after 20 years of active duty in March 2017.

LCDR Elbadri is a Surface Warfare Officer. He is fluent in several languages and dialects to include Modern Standard Arabic, French, Persian Farsi, Moroccan, Lebanese, Egyptian, Iraqi, Syrian and Berber. His personal decorations include Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medals (3rd Award), and Navy Achievement Medals (3rd Award). He is married and has three children… Wanda, Anthony, and Amina.